Eight Reasons Why Cyber Attacks Hit Retailers

Antiquated Systems

Some retailers are faced with limited funds to invest in their IT infrastructure. As a result, they’re often operating on aging systems. One step further, retailers with multiple branch locations are challenged with the task of updating physical hardware at each location without compromising productivity. New systems are bought on an as-needed basis, creating a mash-up of new and old hardware and systems running together.

2014 was a rough year for retailers. It felt as though a major retailer was breached every few weeks, leaving consumers and stakeholders not only more and more frustrated, but increasingly concerned for the safety of personal information. With limited IT resources and massive amounts of customer data to protect across multiple endpoints, effectively monitoring and defending the network from vulnerabilities is no easy task – regardless of the size and financial stability of the organization. Thankfully, it’s not a lost cause – implementing a cybersecurity solution that can continuously monitor the network and automatically detect, engage and remove malware, will multiply the effectiveness of a security IT team and expand their capabilities.

Hexis Cyber Solutions, a provider of advanced cybersecurity solutions for commercial companies and government agencies, has highlighted eight reasons why retailers have become such a prime target for hackers and why these vulnerabilities need to be taken into consideration before their company becomes the next cyber attack victim to make front page news.